Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Feb 26: Samagam 2025– the two-day review meeting of ROTTOs/SOTTOs from North, East and North-East India, concluded at SKICC Srinagar. The meeting was organized by the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO), New Delhi, in collaboration with SOTTO J&K.
The first physical review meeting was inaugurated on February 24 by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who highlighted the importance of organ donation and transplantation. He commended SKIMS Srinagar, GMC Srinagar, and GMC Jammu for their work in kidney and corneal transplantation and urged them to initiate cadaveric organ donation programs.
Dr Atul Goel, Director General Health Services, Government of India, emphasized addressing causes of organ failure such as self-medication, lifestyle diseases, and lack of exercise. Dr Anil Kumar, Director NOTTO, provided an overview of the meeting, while Dr Ashraf Ganie, Director SKIMS, and Dr Iffat Hassan Shah, Principal GMC Srinagar, presented institutional performance reports. Dr Ashutosh Gupta, Principal GMC Jammu, advocated for separate transplant hospitals with modern infrastructure and trained personnel.
Dr Sanjeev Puri, Joint Director SOTTO J&K, introduced organ donation ambassadors to the Chief Minister, who honoured the family of late Dr Manzoor Ahmed, Ex-HoD Ophthalmology, GMC Srinagar, for donating his eyes. Heenu Mushtaq, a kidney transplant recipient and marathon runner, was also honoured.
Experts who deliberated included Dr Anil Kumar (Director NOTTO), Dr Vipin Koushal (Nodal Officer ROTTO North), Dr Bashir Chappoo (Director, Eye Care and Research Centre Srinagar), Dr Elias Sharma (Nodal Officer, SOTTO J&K) and Dr MS Wani (former HoD, KTU SKIMS).
Delegates from ROTTO North, ROTTO East Kolkata, ROTTO Guwahati, and SOTTOs of J&K, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Odisha, Bihar, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, and Sikkim participated.
The event was managed by Dr Shiny (Joint Director NOTTO), Anshu Sharma (media consultant, SOTTO) and Irfan Ahmed Lone (Transplant Coordinator, SOTTO J&K).
Follow our WhatsApp channel
